Figured I should put some of the stuff from my notebook and my general ideas for my design concepts.
The main idea for my concept is that only the first and the last scenes are really happening, they are the realism that frame that make the expressionism of the play so effective and unsettling. The way I have interpreted the play means that the whole 'middle section' of the play is happening inside Jones' head and does not in fact take place in a forest. In the first scene Smithers warns Jones of what is going on and it is there that Jones decides to finally submit to the nightmare he has created for himself. In my interpretation, when Smithers says "Look 'ere, you ain't goin' out that way, are yer?" this is referring not to going out the front door but to Jones giving in and going out of the world that way. (going out= dying, that way= staying in the palace, not running). Then, "Does you think I'd slink out de back door like a common nigger" is where Jones realises that the only way for him to be better than what he believes of the 'common nigger' is to not run away and to finally face who he is, what he has done, and where he stands.
Majority of the action of the play is as a response of his subconscious in a plagued mind. As he knows it is all over, he reflects back on his life, coming full circle, right back to his origins(the witch doctor).
The foundation of my design is a large silver fabric piece of fabric, this is tying in with the silver bullet and the idea that this is the foundation of Jones' self made throne, and ultimately his destruction. The throne is suspended in the air in this silver- Jones has built up this power and protecting himself, but all he has done to make himself untouchable has only hindered him. I am also playing with the idea of him falling off the throne at the beginning and spending the rest of the show trying to get himself back up on this throne.
I then have two while fabric flats at the front of the stage that are a physical creation of the frame I see in the text and the the way Jones is putting on the facade and trying to cover the fact he is black.
I also have two black fabric flats closer to the silver and the throne. Each of these fabric flats also have the potential to create shadows, silhouettes, and have impressions pressed upon them to create the 'nightmare' scenes.
Not sure if any of that is clear at all outside of my head..
(12/04/13)
I am entirely blown away by the amount of time this took me. Serge, if I get a bad grade only you can be held responsible for my mental breakdown, but no pressure.
Been lovely and sick so still none of the notes from my notebook but we have a mood board everybody! Thanks to grand old public holidays I didn't get to the shop to get the fabrics but at least I already know what I am going to go get!
THE MOOD BOARD IS EXTRAORDINARY!...I NOW SEE CLEARLY WHAT YOU ARE AFTER... Yay!
I just found myself at Spotlight and found the perfect three fabrics for my design..But I was an idiot and left my wallet at home so I will get back some time this week and get them.
Lots of things to move over from my notebook and put into a moodboard but really excited by the fabrics so here I am!
Good news Serge, I am actually excited enough by this play to attempt using this wiki!! Good news indeed!!
When I got home today I took the opportunity away from distractions, *cough* Scott and Dawson *cough*, to read the script through fully twice over. I then went through the stage directions trying to get more of a solid idea of the needs of the design.
The overwhelming feeling I get of scenes 2-7 is I want the design I eventually come up with to speak to the nightmare plaguing Jones' mind. Excellent....make a list of them and see if they connect...create a narrative...
I really want to play on the idea that scenes 1 and 8 hold the realism that makes the expressionism of scenes 2-7 so effective and unsettling. GREAT observation Almost as if scenes 1 and 8 are the frame that holds the nightmare as the an elegant picture frame could hold Edvard Munch's 'The Scream'. Excellent Hopefully I can play up that juxtaposition in my design.
Since then I have been researching the history around this play to see what links I can draw from that into the play and then into my design. Some very interesting things about this play and O'Neil but unfortunately the real world is calling me and I have to put this aside for a bit.
But my brain is ticking so stay tuned. Let's hear about them in class...good work.
Figured I should put some of the stuff from my notebook and my general ideas for my design concepts.
The main idea for my concept is that only the first and the last scenes are really happening, they are the realism that frame that make the expressionism of the play so effective and unsettling. The way I have interpreted the play means that the whole 'middle section' of the play is happening inside Jones' head and does not in fact take place in a forest. In the first scene Smithers warns Jones of what is going on and it is there that Jones decides to finally submit to the nightmare he has created for himself. In my interpretation, when Smithers says "Look 'ere, you ain't goin' out that way, are yer?" this is referring not to going out the front door but to Jones giving in and going out of the world that way. (going out= dying, that way= staying in the palace, not running). Then, "Does you think I'd slink out de back door like a common nigger" is where Jones realises that the only way for him to be better than what he believes of the 'common nigger' is to not run away and to finally face who he is, what he has done, and where he stands.
Majority of the action of the play is as a response of his subconscious in a plagued mind. As he knows it is all over, he reflects back on his life, coming full circle, right back to his origins(the witch doctor).
The foundation of my design is a large silver fabric piece of fabric, this is tying in with the silver bullet and the idea that this is the foundation of Jones' self made throne, and ultimately his destruction. The throne is suspended in the air in this silver- Jones has built up this power and protecting himself, but all he has done to make himself untouchable has only hindered him. I am also playing with the idea of him falling off the throne at the beginning and spending the rest of the show trying to get himself back up on this throne.
I then have two while fabric flats at the front of the stage that are a physical creation of the frame I see in the text and the the way Jones is putting on the facade and trying to cover the fact he is black.
I also have two black fabric flats closer to the silver and the throne. Each of these fabric flats also have the potential to create shadows, silhouettes, and have impressions pressed upon them to create the 'nightmare' scenes.
Not sure if any of that is clear at all outside of my head..
(12/04/13)
I am entirely blown away by the amount of time this took me. Serge, if I get a bad grade only you can be held responsible for my mental breakdown, but no pressure.
Been lovely and sick so still none of the notes from my notebook but we have a mood board everybody! Thanks to grand old public holidays I didn't get to the shop to get the fabrics but at least I already know what I am going to go get!
THE MOOD BOARD IS EXTRAORDINARY!...I NOW SEE CLEARLY WHAT YOU ARE AFTER... Yay!
I just found myself at Spotlight and found the perfect three fabrics for my design..But I was an idiot and left my wallet at home so I will get back some time this week and get them.
Lots of things to move over from my notebook and put into a moodboard but really excited by the fabrics so here I am!
Good news Serge, I am actually excited enough by this play to attempt using this wiki!! Good news indeed!!
When I got home today I took the opportunity away from distractions, *cough* Scott and Dawson *cough*, to read the script through fully twice over. I then went through the stage directions trying to get more of a solid idea of the needs of the design.
The overwhelming feeling I get of scenes 2-7 is I want the design I eventually come up with to speak to the nightmare plaguing Jones' mind.
Excellent....make a list of them and see if they connect...create a narrative...
I really want to play on the idea that scenes 1 and 8 hold the realism that makes the expressionism of scenes 2-7 so effective and unsettling. GREAT observation Almost as if scenes 1 and 8 are the frame that holds the nightmare as the an elegant picture frame could hold Edvard Munch's 'The Scream'. Excellent Hopefully I can play up that juxtaposition in my design.
Since then I have been researching the history around this play to see what links I can draw from that into the play and then into my design. Some very interesting things about this play and O'Neil but unfortunately the real world is calling me and I have to put this aside for a bit.
But my brain is ticking so stay tuned. Let's hear about them in class...good work.